Dear Neighbor,
  

As I begin this New Year I find myself reflecting on the strengths of our District. I'm grateful for the opportunity to work with people who care about our community and want to make it better. Thank you to everyone including my dedicated staff who serve our residents every day and want to make Evergreen and District 8 the best place to live in San José. We can all be proud of this community and look forward to an even brighter 2012.

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José City Hall, City Offices to Close for Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday

San José City Hall and other City offices will close on Monday, January 16th in honor of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. All City offices will reopen on Tuesday, January 17th. The Police and Fire Departments, along with other critical City services, will remain unaffected by the closure.

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VTA Service Changes - Effective January 9, 2012

The Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) would like to inform you of the Bus and Light Rail Service Changes implemented on January 9, 2012.

Specifically, the following changes will affect District 8:

Line 183- Aborn & White to Fremont BART New Express Bus with WIFI

This new line will operate between Aborn & White and Fremont BART with the new express vehicles. Three northbound morning trips will leave Aborn & White at 5:11 a.m., 6:06 a.m. and 6:50 a.m. Three southbound evening trips will leave Fremont BART at 5:13 p.m., 6:14 p.m. and 6:58 p.m. The following stops will be observed: Aborn & White, Eastridge Transit Center, Capitol & Story, Hostetter Transit Center and Fremont BART.

Line 22- Palo Alto Transit Center to Eastridge Transit Center via El Camino

On weekdays, an extra westbound trip will be added between 9:00 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. to improve the frequency of service from 30 to 20 minutes. Other minor weekday schedule changes will be made. On Sundays, an extra eastbound trip will be added between 9:00 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. to improve the frequency of service from 30 to 20 minutes.

Line 26- Sunnyvale/Lockheed Martin Transit Center-Eastridge Transit Center

New peak hour trips will be added to improve frequency from 30 to 15 minutes between Wolfe & El Camino and Lockheed Martin. Three new westbound trips will operate in the morning and three new eastbound trips will operate in the afternoon. The 6:02 a.m. eastbound trip will be discontinued. Other minor weekday and weekend schedule changes will be made.

Line 31- Evergreen College to Eastridge Transit Center

On weekdays, the 6:39 a.m. northbound trip will be discontinued. Other minor weekday and weekend schedule changes will be made.

Line 39- The Villages to Eastridge Transit Center

The routing will be changed to operate on Delta and Ruby Aves. instead of Fowler Rd. and Classico Ave. Minor weekday and weekend schedule changes will be made.

Line 77- Eastridge Transit Center to Great Mall/Main Transit Center via King Road

Minor weekday schedule changes will be made. On Saturdays, the 7:50 p.m. southbound trip will be discontinued.

Line 103- Eastridge Transit Center to Palo Alto New Express Bus with WIFI

This line will operate with the new express vehicles. Minor schedule changes will be made.

Line 522- Palo Alto Transit Center to Eastridge Transit Center

Minor weekday and Saturday schedule changes will be made.

To view all service changes, visit www.vta.org/nbs.

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Art Box Project San José

The Art Box Project San José is a new and innovative way to keep San José looking great. The landscape of San José, like any urban or suburban metropolis, is dotted with power boxes that interrupt otherwise charming vistas of urban and suburban life. Art Box Project San José is a community-based organization that works with neighborhoods and artists to decorate these often unsightly boxes. Find out more to make one of your neighborhood's utility boxes and Art Box!

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BMX and Skate Camps

Monday, February 20th - Friday, February 24th

Monday, April 9th - Friday, April 13th

Lake Cunningham Regional Skate Park

The Winter Skate and BMX Camps are in progress but you can still sign up for February and Spring break camps from 10:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. February 20th through the 24th. Admission to the weeklong camps is $150 per person. Pre-registration is required and the forms needed to do so are available for download from the Lake Cunningham Regional Skate Park's website. Additional skate and BMX camps are also planned for the spring.

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Volunteer Coordinator and Parent Trainings

Friday, January 13th, 9:30 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.

Friday, February 10th, 9:30 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.

Friday, March 9th, 9:30 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.

Friday, April 13th, 9:30 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.

Sobrato Center for Nonprofits (1400 Parkmoor Avenue)

These will be fun, interactive how-to workshops on walking school buses, bicycle trains, bike rodeos, walking days, incentive systems and evaluating your program. Meet new people and share ideas.

RSVP required to Alice Kawaguchi, Health Education Specialist with the Traffic Safe Communities Network (TSCN) in the Santa Clara County Public Health Department at (408) 793-2700 or Alice.Kawaguchi@phd.sccgov.org. 

The 2012 Freedom Train

Monday, January 16th, departs San José at 9:30 a.m.
Rod Diridon Station (65 Cahill Street)
  

For over 25 years the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Association of Santa Clara Valley has commemorated the distance walked from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama by Dr. King and other civil rights advocates, by offering a train ride from San José to San Francisco, California.

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District 8 Skate Night Returns

Wednesday, January 18th

Downtown Ice, (250 S. Market Street)

District Skate Nights return to Hawaiian Airlines/Kristi Yamaguchi Downtown Ice Skating rink in January. Bring a coupon to the admissions window, show your ID and get two admissions for the price of one, a $15 savings.

Skate under the stars among a ring of 32 palm trees, in one of the most spectacular skating settings anywhere. It is open daily through January 29, 2012. Skating costs $13 for children 10-under and $15 for adults. The price includes skate rental and all the skating you want.

For more information, call (408) 291-0525 or visit www.sjdowntown.com/downtownice.

Download District 8 Coupon

Santa Clara County Plan Bay Area Workshop

Wednesday, January 18th, 5:15 p.m.

Santa Clara County Government Center
(70 West Hedding, San Jose, CA)

Last spring nearly 800 people attended public workshops in all nine Bay Area counties to learn about Plan Bay Area and offer feedback about future land development, housing growth, transportation investment options and policy initiatives.

For more information or a list of other workshops, visit onebayarea.org/workshops.

Women Skate It Up Contest

Saturday, January 28th

Lake Cunningham Regional Skate Park

The Women Skate It Up Contest is a bowl competition sponsored by many businesses and organizations including GRO, Sktomark Skatemag, Rocket Pistol Skates and Mekash Skateboards. There will be two divisions based on age. Events will be held in both the mini bowl and the skull bowl. Those interested in competing may pre-register via e-mail or in person at Lake Cunningham Regional Skate Park.

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Crime and Gang Prevention Summit

Saturday, February 4th, 8:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.
Overfelt High School (1835 Cunningham Avenue)
  

Sponsored by the Mayor's Gang Prevention Task Force, the event will bring together representatives from the City of San José, non-profit organizations, and local neighborhoods to build and expand partnerships that will help make San José a safer place to live. The summit will feature a number of hands-on workshops, a presentation on the Mayor's Gang Prevention Task Force and a community resource fair. Workshop topics will include: Community Gang Awareness, Santa Clara County Reentry Network, and Working Together for Cleaner, Safer and More Engaged Communities.

All interested individuals are encouraged to attend. Please RSVP online by Tuesday, January 31, 2012. Space is limited, so please sign-up early. If you have any questions, please call the Mayor's Office at (408) 535-4800. 

Learn more about the Crime and Gang Prevention Summit

RSVP

2012 State of the City Address

Thursday, February 9th, 6:30 p.m.
San José Civic Auditorium (135 W. San Carlos Street)

Mayor Chuck Reed, Councilmember Rose Herrera and the rest of the San José City Council cordially invite you to the 2012 State of the City Address. In addition to the Mayor's annual speech, the event will honor outstanding citizens from each Council District and exemplary city employees. 

The 2012 State of the City Address will be FREE for all guests and held during the evening at the San José Civic Auditorium, which features theater-style seating.

Space is limited. All attendees MUST pre-register for this event by Sunday, February 5, 2012. 

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SAVE THE DATE: Great American Litter Pick Up

Saturday, March 17th, 8:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.

Smythe Clubhouse Boys and Girls Club (2195 Cunningham Ave.)

Don't let litter trash your community! Help us clean up litter in San José. The District 8 Kick Off location will be at the Smythe Clubhouse Boys and Girls Club, 2195

Cunningham Ave., San Jose, CA 95122.

Registration & Event Kick Off, including morning snacks: 8:00 a.m. - 8:30 a.m.

Cleanup: 8:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.

Celebration Lunch: 11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.

For more information on how you can volunteer and to register, contact the District 8 Office at (408) 535-4908. 

Councilmember Herrera, Lisa Untrauer and teachers and administrators from Carolyn Clark Elementary School caroling at Vintage Silver Creek on 12/20.

View More Photos at the
 D8 Photo Gallery